Mary and Elizabeth

1:39 In those days128 Mary got up and went hurriedly into the hill country, to a town of Judah,129 1:40 and entered Zechariah’s house and greeted Elizabeth. 1:41 When130 Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped131 in her132 womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit.133 1:42 She134 exclaimed with a loud voice,135 “Blessed are you among women,136 and blessed is the child137 in your womb! 1:43 And who am I138 that the mother of my Lord should come and visit me? 1:44 For the instant139 the sound of your greeting reached my ears,140 the baby in my womb leaped for joy.141 1:45 And blessed142 is she who believed that143 what was spoken to her by144 the Lord would be fulfilled.”145

Mary’s Hymn of Praise

1:46 And Mary146 said,147

“My soul exalts148 the Lord,149

1:47 and my spirit has begun to rejoice150 in God my Savior,

1:48 because he has looked upon the humble state of his servant.151

For152 from now on153 all generations will call me blessed,154

1:49 because he who is mighty155 has done great things for me, and holy is his name;

1:50 from156 generation to generation he is merciful157 to those who fear158 him.

1:51 He has demonstrated power159 with his arm; he has scattered those whose pride wells up from the sheer arrogance160 of their hearts.

1:52 He has brought down the mighty161 from their thrones, and has lifted up those of lowly position;162

1:53 he has filled the hungry with good things,163 and has sent the rich away empty.164

1:54 He has helped his servant Israel, remembering165 his mercy,166

1:55 as he promised167 to our ancestors,168 to Abraham and to his descendants169 forever.”

1:56 So170 Mary stayed with Elizabeth171 about three months172 and then returned to her home.

The Birth of John

1:57 Now the time came173 for Elizabeth to have her baby,174 and she gave birth to a son. 1:58 Her175 neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had shown176 great mercy to her, and they rejoiced177 with her.

1:59 On178 the eighth day179 they came to circumcise the child, and they wanted to name180 him Zechariah after his father. 1:60 But181 his mother replied,182 “No! He must be named183 John.”184 1:61 They185 said to her, “But186 none of your relatives bears this name.”187 1:62 So188 they made signs to the baby’s189 father,190 inquiring what he wanted to name his son.191 1:63 He192 asked for a writing tablet193 and wrote,194 “His name is John.” And they were all amazed.195 1:64 Immediately196 Zechariah’s197 mouth was opened and his tongue198 released,199 and he spoke, blessing God. 1:65 All200 their neighbors were filled with fear, and throughout the entire hill country of Judea all these things were talked about. 1:66 All201 who heard these things202 kept them in their hearts,203 saying, “What then will this child be?”204 For the Lord’s hand205 was indeed with him.